Iraq – IOM Iraq Chief of Mission Thomas Lothar Weiss and Minister of Interior of the Government of Iraq, Qasim Al Araji, have both confirmed continued cooperation to assist communities affected by the ongoing conflict and to enhance security, namely through the Community Policing programme, after meeting recently in Baghdad.

The Community Policing programme is implemented by IOM in partnership with the Ministry of the Interior (MoI) to promote stability in Iraq. The Community Policing model is key to foster stabilization, especially in newly retaken areas. IOM Iraq’s current two-year project ‘Strengthening Community Policing in Iraq’, is funded by the German Government.

“IOM and the Iraqi Government have a common aim, that is, to enhance stability in Iraq. Community policing plays a major role in this effort, with the essential involvement of the Ministry of Interior," said IOM's Weiss. "We look forward to expanding our cooperation to further assist vulnerable people and communities in Iraq. We appreciate the support of the German Government to forward community policing,” he continued.

“In the Middle East, in general, the relationship between police and communities is not strong enough; citizens may feel restricted from communicating with police. In Iraq, there are problems in Mosul and Anbar and in some provinces due to a lack of trust," said Minister Araji. "The role of Community Policing is to strengthen the relationship between police and the community members and serve as a mediator among citizens, tribes, stakeholders and youth, which will lead to fuller cooperation with the police to extend security," he continued.

The Minister added: “The Ministry of the Interior is working hard to win the people’s trust through Community Policing, especially as Community Policing has a significant role after the expulsion of ISIL. The Ministry appreciates IOM’s work on strengthening community policing in Iraq.”

The programme is enhancing knowledge of Community Policing principles through trainings, workshops and conferences; it is also establishing Community Policing Forums (CPFs) that bring together representatives from local communities, police services, civil society organizations, government officials and displaced Iraqis.

The purpose of CPFs is to enhance communication and build trust between local communities and police, thereby creating a safe environment to discuss and develop strategies on security related issues. The forums address issues that concern the community and contribute to improving security through cooperation and information sharing.

A total of 49 CPFs have been established across Iraq; 34 established by IOM’s Community Policing programme, and 15 independently established by local police, building on the CPFs model. CPF locations include the retaken area of Qayara in Ninewa governorate.

Through the Community Policing programme, IOM has conducted 20 trainings, six conferences and six workshops, reaching over 1,100 police officers, community members, law enforcement, civil society and judiciary representatives.

The current project, funded by the German Government, has also provided in-kind support to community policing, including vehicles and technical, security and communication equipment.

Based on the agreement with the Iraqi MoI, IOM will rehabilitate or build additional community policing offices to improve community access to law enforcement services in the governorates of Salah al-Din, Anbar, Diyala and Ninewa and will reconstruct the Community Policing Department Headquarters in Baghdad.

The Community Policing programme is part of IOM Iraq’s integrated approach to community stabilization, which includes working with vulnerable communities and government authorities to provide light infrastructure projects and social cohesion activities, and to expand economic opportunities.

As military operations in the Mosul corridor continue, IOM is responding to resulting displacement through the provision of emergency response services including non-food item kits, shelter, livelihoods assistance, primary health care, psychosocial assistance and displacement tracking.

IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) has identified more than 3 million currently displaced Iraqis across the country since January 2014. Now more than six months into the Mosul military operations, cumulatively, IOM DTM has identified more than 441,000 individuals displaced from Mosul and adjacent districts since 17 October 2016. Of these, as of 27 April 2017 more than 105,000 have returned to their areas of origin, and as of 2 May, more than 358,000 are still displaced.